Page 33 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

order and initiating a new age. Some would welcome
giant, but this is especially true of storm giants.
about the return of Annam, upending the giants' social
deferentially, and act respectfully in the presence of a
portents, if confirmed to be true, would indeed bring
and livelihoods. It's always wise to tread softly, speak
sealed for millennia. The less obvious one is that certain
likely little comfort to those who lost loved ones, homes,
involves delving into Ostorian ruins that have been
offer payment to make amends, though a sack of gold is
work, for two reasons. The obvious one is that the task
in a fit of rage is likely to regret it afterward and might
items the giants need for their oracles. It's dangerous
A storm giant that destroys a town and kills innocents
that they dispatch to investigate portents and to retrieve
bring furious retribution down on an entire community.
this situation, since the giants sometimes hire agents
an offense committed by one person against a giant can
Explorers and adventurers can find opportunity in
one is roused to anger, principle gives way to fury, and
man kingdoms and spanning human lifetimes.
calmest of storm giants has a tremendous temper. When
validity of this or that omen are conducted across hu-
respect the principle of the sanctity of life, but even the
exhaustively examined. Debates over the meaning and
the notion that storm giants are "good" creatures. They
tain sea. Every possibility encapsulated in every sign is
on the receiving end of their attention might question
spiritual head, the storm giants are adrift on an uncer-
When storm giants do interact with non-giants, those
Without an emperor to serve as their political and
hinted at by an omen.
information on these creatures).
occasions when humans crop up in a prophecy or are
winds and murderous weather (see chapter 3 for more
give much thought to the matter, except on the rare
in remote and inhospitable sites surrounded by brutal
good nor ill on the realms of humanity; they simply don't
quintessents are the most reclusive of their kind, lairing
the giants will leave the world alone. They wish neither
by merging with elemental forces. These storm giant
But as long as the world leaves the storm giants alone,
uals gain a measure of immortality for themselves
teed to come to grief.
to pass- they all want to live to see it. Some individ-
try extending their reach in that direction are guaran-
personal interest in how soon Annam's return comes
they have no influence over the storm giants. Any who
For an obvious reason, every storm giant has a strong
all might amass what they consider great power, but
contentious.
and dwarf kings, liches, grand sorcerers and wizards-
signs manifested have been muddied, conflicting, and
storm giants recognize no higher authority. Human, elf,
crawl of centuries since the empire's collapse, the few
In the absence of both Annam and a worldly emperor,
leader of them all were clear and unmistakable. In the
OUT FOR THEMSELVES
giant dynasties reigned, the signs that accompanied the
watch for the all-important signs. In ages past, when
they could to stop it, possibly resorting to all-out war.
such a change; others would oppose it bitterly and do all
realms of the storm giants, which maintain a constant